Particle feeding and treating system

Abstract

A feeding apparatus has a vessel with a floor on which is provided a support lining defining with the floor a generally closed space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to the foil over the holes. A blower serves to inject gas into the space and suck it therefrom and means is provided for withdrawing fluent particulate material from the vessel adjacent the lining. The gas injected under the lining serves partially to fluidize the bed and also to flex the lining so that the bed of particulate material thereon is loosened and can be withdrawn from the vessel.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. 
     
       1. A feeding apparatus comprising, in combination: a vessel having a floor;   means for withdrawing fluent particulate material from said vessel adjacent said floor;   a flexible support lining in said vessel on said floor defining therewith a generally closed variable-volume space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to said foil over said holes; and   blower means for injecting a gas into said space and thereby flexing said lining, whereby said material is loosened by said gas passing through said holes in the foil and disseminating through said sheet.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said holes are at most 4 mm 2  in section and are spaced by a distance of at most 20 mm. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said foil is sandwiched between two such sheets. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive securing said sheet to said foil. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said holes are at most 4 mm 2  in flow cross-section and are spaced apart by a distance of at most 20 mm. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said sheet is fibrous and has one face turned toward and secured to said foil and another face with roughened outwardly projecting fibers. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said sheet is turned toward said material and said foil is turned toward said floor. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said floor is provided with a plurality of outlets connected to said blower means. 
     
     
       9. A feeding apparatus comprising, in combination: a vessel having a floor;   means for withdrawing fluent particulate material from said vessel adjacent said floor;   an annular support lining in said vessel on said floor and having inner and outer peripheries secured to said vessel, said lining defining between said peripheries, underneath said lining and with said vessel a generally closed annular space, said lining further being constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to said foil over said holes; and   blower means for injecting a gas into said space, whereby said material is loosened by said gas passing through said holes in said foil and disseminating through said sheet.   
     
     
       10. A feeding apparatus comprising, in combination: a vessel having a downwardly tapering floor and having immediately above said floor a lower region tapered downwardly more than said floor;   means for withdrawing fluent particulate material from said vessel adjacent said floor;   a support lining in said vessel on said floor defining therewith a generally closed space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to said foil over said holes; and   blower means for injecting a gas into said space, whereby said material is loosened by said gas passing through said holes in said foil and disseminating through said sheet.   
     
     
       11. A feeding apparatus comprising, in combination: a vessel having a floor and an upper part and a lower part joined at a horizontal joint;   means for withdrawing fluent particulate material from said vessel adjacent said floor;   a support lining in said vessel on said floor defining therewith a generally closed space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to said foil over said holes, said lining having an outer edge clamped between said parts at said joint; and   blower means for injecting a gas into said space, whereby said material is loosened by said gas passing through said holes in said foil and disseminating through said sheet.   
     
     
       12. A feeding apparatus comprising, in combination: a vessel having a floor;   means for withdrawing fluent particulate material from said vessel adjacent said floor;   a support lining in said vessel on said floor defining therewith a generally closed space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to said foil over said holes; and   blower means for injecting a gas into said space and withdrawing gas from said space, whereby said material is loosened by said gas passing through said holes in said foil and disseminating through said sheet.   
     
     
       13. A feeding apparatus comprising, in combination: a vessel having a floor;   means for withdrawing fluent particulate material from said vessel adjacent said floor;   an annular lining in said vessel on said floor and having generally concentric inner and outer peripheries secured to said vessel, said lining defining with said floor a generally annular space between said peripheries and being constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to said foil over said holes;   means for securing said lining to said floor along an annular zone between said peripheries for subdividing said space into two annular subspaces; and   blower means for injecting a gas into one of said subspaces and for withdrawing a gas from the other subspace and thereafter withdrawing said gas from said one subspace and feeding a gas to said other subspace, whereby said material is loosened by said gas passing through said holes in said foil and disseminating through said sheet.